That’s kind of fucked up, asking kids to tell their political allegiance… In debates we were assigned an opinion and had to defend it no matter what our personal opinion was to make us understand how to build arguments…
When I was in 8th grade, at a Catholic private school… I was the only person who preferred liberal. During the debates we had, I won over a majority of my classmates with my arguments in favor of doing things how Jesus would behave. I won the debate but the teacher didn’t recognize my success. It was actually very illuminating at the time and has stayed with me all my life. Hardcore conservatives will choose reactionary ideas over their religion.
I had a similar experience in middle school when my parents signed me up for CCD (after school program to get you ready for Catholic confirmation). I considered myself a Christian until then and was looking forward to the program…until my non-combative questions about applying Jesus’ teachings to the real world were dismissed and I saw the cult mentality I had fallen for.
Weirdly enough, the final nail in the wrist coffin was when I asked my teacher how he knew that What Dreams May Come was not an accurate representation of pergatory and he said “it just isn’t.”
I had the opposite experience at a Catholic public school, though most of the teachers (except the born-again 😒) were careful not to talk about their personal opinions much.
Most of the kids I went to school with were either secular or not very religious, though there were some believers for sure. Our debate topics were randomly assigned, so people often argued for things they didn’t believe in.
I agree with your last sentence though, definitely observed that across various different religions.
I get that Lemmy is super liberal, but this kind of mentality is toxic. It results in a generation that is unwilling to question their beliefs, leans into mob mentality, and doesn’t see the need to understand and articulate political beliefs you support.
That’s kind of fucked up, asking kids to tell their political allegiance… In debates we were assigned an opinion and had to defend it no matter what our personal opinion was to make us understand how to build arguments…
When I was in 8th grade, at a Catholic private school… I was the only person who preferred liberal. During the debates we had, I won over a majority of my classmates with my arguments in favor of doing things how Jesus would behave. I won the debate but the teacher didn’t recognize my success. It was actually very illuminating at the time and has stayed with me all my life. Hardcore conservatives will choose reactionary ideas over their religion.
I had a similar experience in middle school when my parents signed me up for CCD (after school program to get you ready for Catholic confirmation). I considered myself a Christian until then and was looking forward to the program…until my non-combative questions about applying Jesus’ teachings to the real world were dismissed and I saw the cult mentality I had fallen for.
Weirdly enough, the final nail in the
wristcoffin was when I asked my teacher how he knew that What Dreams May Come was not an accurate representation of pergatory and he said “it just isn’t.”I had the opposite experience at a Catholic public school, though most of the teachers (except the born-again 😒) were careful not to talk about their personal opinions much.
Most of the kids I went to school with were either secular or not very religious, though there were some believers for sure. Our debate topics were randomly assigned, so people often argued for things they didn’t believe in.
I agree with your last sentence though, definitely observed that across various different religions.
I agree.
I get that Lemmy is super liberal, but this kind of mentality is toxic. It results in a generation that is unwilling to question their beliefs, leans into mob mentality, and doesn’t see the need to understand and articulate political beliefs you support.
We never had debate, but in a performance acts class once we were asked our opinion on something and then would have to defend the opposite opinion.
It was nothing so blatantly polarising as only one person on one side though.
I had to argue that some babies are evil and people legit goy angry at me.
All kids are evil
They’re just little ids.
And then they kick you in the nuts for the lulz